• Australian Open

Murray bullish ahead of Nadal match

ESPN staff
January 25, 2010
Andy Murray feels he has some tactics that can help him topple Rafael Nadal © Getty Images
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Andy Murray faces his first real test of the Australian Open on Tuesday against defending champion Rafael Nadal, but the world No.4 will approach the contest with an air of confidence.

Murray was hugely impressive in disposing of big-serving American John Isner, but his meeting with Nadal will be a polar opposite in terms of style. The Scot has not dropped a set on his way to the quarter finals and he is confident of his chances of toppling Nadal - a player who is feeling his way back to fitness and form following a torrid second half of 2009.

"I know the match against Rafa is going to be difficult, but I think I can win," he said. "I think I've got some tactics that work well against him. I'm playing well. There's no question about that. I just need to make sure I play my best."

Murray is aware that Nadal may be vulnerable after a period on the sidelines due to a knee complaint. "Obviously at the end of last year he was coming back from injury," Murray said. "He needs to play a lot. That's the way he has been brought up. And he has always practiced loads.

"He gets to the latter stages of tournaments the whole time. He came back and everyone said he was struggling but he got to quarters and semis and he had some physical problems, which was understandable. If he is physically fit, which he seems to be, it's going to be an incredibly tough match. I'm not going to say that he is looking vulnerable."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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